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Seagull Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
seem to have been (doing)
(a) John seems to have been waiting here long.
(b) John seems to have waited here long.
It sounds to me that (a) says that John was kept waiting until now and he is still waiting for someone, while (b) says that John's friend has just arrived and so he is not waiting any longer. Is my understanding correct?
(b) John seems to have waited here long.
It sounds to me that (a) says that John was kept waiting until now and he is still waiting for someone, while (b) says that John's friend has just arrived and so he is not waiting any longer. Is my understanding correct?
Top answer
I don’t think I would ever say (b). It just doesn’t seem very natural. Sentence (a) could be said in both situations you described.
- I don’t think I would ever say (b).
- It just doesn’t seem very natural.
- Sentence (a) could be said in both situations you described.
- )
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2 Answers
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I don’t think I would ever say (b). It just doesn’t seem very natural. Sentence (a) could be said in both situations you described.
(I prefer John seems to have been waiting here a long time.)
(I prefer John seems to have been waiting here a long time.)
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